Nature / Bird Photography

bbg404

bbg404

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Ben
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Just wondering if the Nikon 70-300 is good enough for bird photography?

Ive never gave it a go before and seeing some of the photos on here I'm interested in trying!

Ill be ordering my new Nikon D759 in the next week or so and already have the Nikon 70-300 which I very rarely use!

Would the D750 + 70-300 be a good starting combination? I'll probably never take it up and invest in a longer lens just wondering if Id be able to get some decent results with that kit?

Thanks
 
300mm is probably a minimum focal length for bird photography, (with certain exceptions), but if you pursue it you will want longer reach and better image quality options :)
 
Hi Ben

It will give you a reasonable idea .. I still use mine quite often, especially when I am messing about in the reed beds or say in a canoe, but I have always used it with a DX sensor, D300 and D7100, (and maybe with the Nikon 1), so have benefitted from the x 1.5 crop


Here are a few shots taken from some distance and cropped, hand held in goodish light …….. and would have been at 300mm (effective 450mm) and are 850 x 850 so you can see the IQ……...it will "wet your appetite" to move up to a better "prime"

Good luck

70300_1.jpg


70300_2.jpg


70300_3.jpg


70300_4.jpg


70300_5.jpg
 
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BillN_33 said:
Hi Ben

It will give you a reasonable idea .. I still use mine quite often, especially when I am messing about in the reed beds or say in a canoe, but I have always used it with a DX sensor, D300 and D7100, (and maybe with the Nikon 1), so have benefitted from the x 1.5 crop


Here are a few shots taken from some distance and cropped, hand held in goodish light …….. and would have been at 300mm (effective 450mm) and are 850 x 850 so you can see the IQ……...it will "wet your appetite" to move up to a better "prime"

Good luck


70300_2.jpg


70300_3.jpg


70300_4.jpg
Click to expand...

Well I've just sold my crop d5200 and upgrading to the d750 mostly for landscapes and astro but wouldn't mind having a blast at this!

If I can get anything like the 3 I've left in the quote I'll be more than happy!!

I have thought about the new Tamrom 150-600 but as I rarely use the 70-300 Id be less likely to use that u less I get in to bird photography ..... I can only try then once the better halfs calmed down after this big spend I may suggest I need to better super zoom ;)
 
Sorry - should have said the Gull was at 220mm - Kingfisher and Cormorant at 300mm …… on the lens

all x 1.5 if you see what I mean

from what I have read the D750 seems to be a lot better than the D7100 ………..so even if you crop the FX sensor more you should get similar or better images

moving up from the 300mm zoom starts to get expensive as other equipment may be needed to support and use the lens to it's best

Funny you should pick out those three as my "preferred" ones are the Dab chick and the SnakeBird, i.e.the first and last
 
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Gramps, Bill or someone else maybe better to answer this, but I believe it's a good starting point.

I am saving for the 300mm F4 prime and plan to add the 1.4 TC so giving 420mm on FF, this would be more than enough for my needs. The 300mm F4 (mk2) is being replaced shortly so hoping prices may come down, although they can be had for under £700 from HDEW, Panamoz etc. You would expect the prime to be better than the super zooms???

See how your 70-300VR goes but I wouldn't expect too much from my experience, after using and owning the lens on a D7000. Myself I prefered the Tamron 70-300VC over the Nikon.

For me I don't think I would buy a 300mm f2.8 as it would be too expensive for me and for my uses. So I think the F4 lens is as good as it gets in the price range.
 
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bbg404 said:
Would the D750 + 70-300 be a good starting combination?
Click to expand...

As starting lens the 70-300 should work (if it is a VR lens and not the old non-VR lens that was terrible as far as I remember). However its performance is far from ideal at the long end. But since you already have it why don't you just use it once you have your D750 to see if it works for you?

If you want something better and don't want to spent a fortune you want AF-S 300 f/4D. It is really a fantastic lens. Now it has its successor introduced, perhaps the old model will be even more affordable (especially second hand).

Some people also like the new 80-400G and various XX-500 or 600 f/6.3 lenses from Sigma and Tamron. These have their advantages (reach, VR) but tend to be more expensive even used. I am personally not a big fan of these as I prefer to work closer to birds and don't like slow shutter time and/or high ISO at f/5.6-6.3.
 
BillN_33 said:
Sorry - should have said the Gull was at 220mm - Kingfisher and Cormorant at 300mm …… on the lens

all x 1.5 if you see what I mean

from what I have read the D750 seems to be a lot better than the D7100 ………..so even if you crop the FX sensor more you should get similar or better images

moving up from the 300mm zoom starts to get expensive as other equipment may be needed to support and use the lens to it's best

Funny you should pick out those three as my "preferred" ones are the Dab chick and the SnakeBird, i.e.the first and last
Click to expand...

well thats what i was hoping for, as the D750 is an awsome camera and i think the 70-300vr is a good lens for what ive used it for if i can get a sharp shot then crop in i should be ok!!
i cant actually see me ever changing from the 70-300vr unless i find a 80-400 cheap but the net super zoom on my list was the 150-600 but that would be years away

Swanseajack said:
Gramps, Bill or someone else maybe better to answer this, but I believe it's a good starting point.

I am saving for the 300mm F4 prime and plan to add the 1.4 TC so giving 420mm on FF, this would be more than enough for my needs. The 300mm F4 (mk2) is being replaced shortly so hoping prices may come down, although they can be had for under £700 from HDEW, Panamoz etc. You would expect the prime to be better than the super zooms???

See how your 70-300VR goes but I wouldn't expect too much from my experience, after using and owning the lens on a D7000. Myself I prefered the Tamron 70-300VC over the Nikon.

For me I don't think I would buy a 300mm f2.8 as it would be too expensive for me and for my uses. So I think the F4 lens is as good as it gets in the price range.
Click to expand...

yeah ive saw they brought the new 300 out so the older one should drop but ive had a couple of primes before and next got on with with them

mpe said:
As starting lens the 70-300 should work (if it is a VR lens and not the old non-VR lens that was terrible as far as I remember). However its performance is far from ideal at the long end. But since you already have it why don't you just use it once you have your D750 to see if it works for you?

If you want something better and don't want to spent a fortune you want AF-S 300 f/4D. It is really a fantastic lens. Now it has its successor introduced, perhaps the old model will be even more affordable (especially second hand).

Some people also like the new 80-400G and various XX-500 or 600 f/6.3 lenses from Sigma and Tamron. These have their advantages (reach, VR) but tend to be more expensive even used. I am personally not a big fan of these as I prefer to work closer to birds and don't like slow shutter time and/or high ISO at f/5.6-6.3.
Click to expand...

Yes it is the 70-300vr

the 80-400 could be an option at some point and probably would be more usable than the 150-600 especially for me,


any how thanks for all the help i will give it a go once i get the d750 up and running hopefully be able to post a couple shots for you lot to see
 
I have used a 300 F4 and a 1.4 tc for some time, it is a great set up,even wide open. Currently using it on a D750 and the AF is really impressive. I have tried differing zooms over time, IMO the primes give better results all round.
 
fracster said:
I have used a 300 F4 and a 1.4 tc for some time, it is a great set up,even wide open. Currently using it on a D750 and the AF is really impressive. I have tried differing zooms over time, IMO the primes give better results all round.
Click to expand...

ahhhh brilliant thanks I've been looking at the 300 f4 on eBay today could be something to consider in the future, but for now ill hang fire and try with what I've got when I get the d750

Thanks
 
hang on a month or so mate. Nikon have just released a new 300 f4, the price of old ones second hand should drop. They are a perfectly good lens.
 
Dael_Pix said:
Canon 75-300mm
Click to expand...
The OP is shooting Nikon, quite why you post example pics of a Canon lens and camera is somewhat baffling.
 
mpe said:
Pictures looks good. My only concern is that mounting it to the D750 might require a bit of brute force :)
Click to expand...

Thank you.

Shooting the deer, I thought to myself I 'needed' a longer better lens, so I bought one :)
 
You'll probably find 300mm frustrating at times - there's not a huge amount of zoom there, especially when on a full frame camera.
 
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